Three Sisters (The Tattooist of Auschwitz #3)(96)

Yitzchak leans across the space between them to tuck the wayward strands of Magda’s hair behind her ears, a smile slowly forming on his mouth. Right here, right now, thinks Magda, is where we found each other.

‘I said to you there was something I needed to tell you and a question I had to ask you.’

‘So, the question,’ grins Magda.

‘Magda Meller, will you marry me?’

Magda looks over his shoulder as the last rays of sunlight disappear. A full moon is already in the sky, shining its pale light on them.





CHAPTER 29

Kfar Ahim

1950

M

agda and Yitzchak are married in Cibi’s front garden, amongst the flowers, and the friends they have made since arriving in Israel. When the glass, wrapped in a fine linen cloth, breaks beneath the couple’s feet, the crowd erupts with cries of, ‘Mazel tov!’

In the early hours of the following morning, Magda waves goodbye to her sisters and takes her leave with her new husband. Cibi and Livi linger in the garden until everyone has left.

‘She looked so happy, didn’t she?’ Livi says.

‘She is happy. She’s in love.’ Cibi is absentmindedly folding napkins.

‘Do you think I’ll find someone?’ asks Livi, wistfully.

Cibi drops the napkins and takes both her sister’s hands in her own.

‘Of course you will, kitten. You may have already met him, you never know.’

‘I’m not in a hurry, Cibi.’ Cibi raises her eyes to the dawn sky.

‘Who’s ever in a hurry these days? Life brings what it brings. Do you remember what Grandfather used to say about ‘time’?’

Now Livi fiddles with the napkins. Her eyes narrow as she casts her mind back to their childhood in Vranov. ‘Something about life being long if you savour every moment?’

‘Exactly. That we shouldn’t look at each day as a series of tasks we have to get through, but to see each twenty-four hours as a gift from God and cherish individual moments.’ Cibi gulps. The words ‘gift from God’ stuck in her throat.

‘You’re still not praying?’ Livi asks, folding napkins. She hates putting Cibi on the spot, but sometimes it happens.

Cibi shakes her head.

‘That’s OK. You will again.’

‘I’m not sure I will, Livi. God used to live in here.’ Cibi touches her chest. ‘But now my sisters fill that space.’

‘If your heart is full, then maybe it’s the same thing.’

‘I have always had my sisters, Livi. There has never been a time when one or other of you wasn’t there for me, but we needed God in those camps, and where was he?’ Cibi says, firmly.

Livi has no response for this. Her sister’s heart was broken, just as hers was, and Magda’s. Like Cibi, she has no idea if, when or how they will begin to heal.

Cibi stands and takes Livi’s hand. ‘The sun is coming up and we have all the time in the world to discuss your love life and my faith, or lack of it. Right now we need some sleep before Karol wakes up.’

*

A week later, Magda and Yitzchak and Livi return to Cibi’s house for dinner. Cibi thinks Magda looks pale. While memories of the wedding party are recalled and savoured, Magda stays ominously silent. Maybe her sister has an announcement, Cibi wonders mischievously, but when Cibi tries to catch her eye, Magda looks away.

‘I’ve got some good news,’ says Cibi, wondering if this is just what Magda needs to cheer up. ‘Uncle Ivan wrote to me. He, Irinka and the children have been given permission to come to Israel. Isn’t that wonderful?’

‘It’s wonderful!’ says Livi, clapping. ‘We’ll be a family again, all of us together.’

‘Do you think it’s wonderful, Magda?’ asks Cibi cautiously, when her sister fails to show the same enthusiasm as Livi.

‘Of course I do!’ says Magda. ‘Irinka’s pregnant, isn’t she?’

‘Yes, they want their new baby to be born in Israel. Isn’t that romantic?’

Magda nods.

‘Magda, come on!’ says Cibi, while their husbands are taking the plates through to the kitchen. ‘Tell me what’s going on with you. You’ve barely said a word all evening.’

‘Don’t forget she’s a newlywed, Cibi,’ says Livi, cheekily. ‘Maybe she’s just too happy to talk.’ Livi winks at Magda.

Magda raises her eyes, and both Livi and Cibi startle: Magda looks scared.

‘You’re worrying me now. Please,’ says Cibi.

‘Yitzchak,’ calls Magda. ‘Can you come in?’

The sisters are still sitting, side by side at the table when Yitzchak and Mischka come back into the room.

‘You’re right, Cibi.’ Magda swallows. ‘I have something to tell you and you’re not going to like it.’

‘What is it?’ asks Livi, her hand at her throat. ‘And why don’t I know? I live with you, for God’s sake.’

‘We wanted to tell you both at the same time. As you all know, I have loved living here.’ She looks at her husband. ‘It’s where I met Yitzchak after all. But’ – Magda takes a deep breath – ‘we want to move.’

Cibi looks confused, Livi startled.